Sharks are renowned as fierce predators but Basking Shark is neither. By cruising gently through the ocean with his great mouth yawning open, Basking Shark spends a large amount of time feeding near the surface of the water. Swimming very slowly, Basking Shark gets His name from his habit of lying still as if He was basking in the sun.
Basking Shark looks fearsome but despite his huge dorsal fin and cavernous mouth, He is a placid, harmless giant. He cruises near the surface of temperate oceans with his large mouth open. Basking Shark only feeds on tiny sea creatures that He filters from the water. Drawing in tons of water, Basking Shark has his gill rakers (Basking Shark's version of teeth) spring up to trap His tiny prey. He can filter about 1,000 tons of seawater in an hour.
Basking Shark teaches that size does not always mean danger. However, Basking Shark reminds you not to go around with your mouth hanging open, you may catch unwanted garbage.
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Conservation Note: Basking Sharks are endangered and are protected in the United States.
Photo of Basking Shark courtesy of U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Va. Carper
May 2, 2008